El Campo Leader-News (El Campo, Tex.), Vol. 98, No. 94, Ed. 1 Wednesday, February 16, 1983 Page: 2 of 34
This newspaper is part of the collection entitled: Wharton County Newspaper Collection and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the Wharton County Library.
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Page2-A ElCampo Leader-News, ElCampo, TX, Wed., Feb 16,1963
Suspect Arrested In Theft Of $1,600 In Weapons
Hie El Campo Police Depar
tment cleared up the burglary of
more than $1,600 worth of
weapons from Rioux True Value
Hardware Store thanks to the
memory of Sgt. Phil Forsythe
“He had enough to start a war
with,” Lt Robin Taylor said of the
pile of four rifles and assorted
weapons and ammunition that
blanketed the floor of his office
Tuesday morning.
According to Taylor, events
that led to the arrest and charging
of Robert Lawrence Caldwell Jr.,
Rt. 2, Wharton, with the burglary
began when the Wharton County
Sheriff’s Department received a
call about some shots being fired
in the Colorado River basin in
Wharton.
When deputies arrived on the
scene, they were met by a pickup
leaving the area. When deputies
began pursuit, the truck drove
across a plowed field and sub-
sequently became stuck in the
mud. The driver then fled the
scene.
Police were able to get a
physical description of the
suspect and found a jacket
believed to belong to Caldwell, in
the truck, which a license check
revealed to be stolen from C. J.
Carlson of El Campo. The truck
contained an assortment of rifles,
knives and ammunition with True
Value Hardware Store tags at-
tached to them.
Deputies then radioed El
Campo police to see if there had
been a burglary at the hardware
store,
El Campo police confirmed the
report.
Sgt. Forsythe, who heard about
the robbery was able to identify
the jacket as Caldwell’s from an
event earlier this weekend when
Caldwell was observed acting
suspiciously in a local pharmacy.
Through Forsythe’s and two
other witnesses’ identification of
the jacket, police were able to
obtain a warrant for the arrest of
Caldwell
Caldwell was handed over to
authorities in Wharton and later
transferred to El Campo where
bond was set at $40,000 by Justice
of the Peace Frank Bubela.
In other police news, Ruth
Fmka, 906 Center, reported a
burglary at Fmka Food Mart, 911
W Jackson sometime Friday
night. Four sirloin steaks, valued
at $14, and $81 in cash were
reported stolen.
Raymond Miksik reported the
break-in of his beer lounge
sometime early Saturday mor-
ning Miksik told police his lounge
suffered $200 in damages and $12
in quarters were stolen.
Terri Gundelach of Louise
reported the theft of a 1975 4-door
Mercury Comet that was parked
in a parking lot at 908 S. Mechanic
St. between 7:30 and 8:55
Saturday night.
Mark Pratka, Western Acres,
reported the theft of a $70 battery
from his truck parked in a
parking lot at 209 August
sometime Friday night.
A burglary at the El Campo
Coca-Cola Bottling plant was
reported by James Socha, Route
4. A $30 window was broken, but
so far it has not been determined
if any merchandise was stolen.
Ronnie Wolfe, 1415 E Jackson,
reported the theft of a 1981 Pon-
tiac Catalina sometime Thursday
night. According to police reports,
the car was parked next to Dotco
Fishing Tools Co.
Jessie Gibson, Glen Flora Road,
reported the theft of a rear
bumper for a Chevrolet valued at
$177 sometime between Tuesday
and Friday.
Alan D. Humphries, 807
Heights, reported $50 worth of
vandalism to his house late
Saturday night Humphries told
police two window screens had
been damaged.
John Edward Cameron, 1415 W.
Norris, told police he had been
assaulted on the street at 200 Sue
St. Cameron told police the in-
cident took place around 10 p.m.
Saturday. He drove himself to El
Campo Memorial Hospital was
treated and released.
Leonard Herring Jr., 208
Palacios, also reported he was
assaulted late Saturday night at
700 W. Jackson St.
James William Stacy, 207 S.
Washington Apt. B, was arrested
at 1120 W. Jackson for possession
of drug paraphernalia and public
intoxication. He was fined $266
and released.
Pablo Benitez and his brother
Richard, Rt. 2, were arrested for
the theft of approximately 25
gallons of gasoline from a truck
on Sunday. They were released on
$200 bonds.
Dwayne Eddie Sanchez, Rt. 3,
was arrested Friday night for
driving while intoxicated and
refusal to take an intoxilyzer test.
He was released on a $500 bond.
Oscar Zurtuchs Gutierrez,
Houston, was arrested Friday in
connection with the Jan. 24
burglary of Raymond’s Place
along with Adolph Garcia, 1114
Acosta Driver, who was charged
with burglary of a business.
Council Approves Library Repairs -
(Continued From Page 1)
beautification of Evans Park.
These projects would not be an
expense to the city, Radley said,
other than for maintenance.
A request by the El Campo Art
league for replacement of the old
library building roof was granted
by the council A bid of $1,964 and
a 10 year warranty on the roof by
Byron Hiebert was accepted by
council, with the stipulation that
any substantial repairs to
decking, etc., must be re-
Three Major Accidents
Reported This Weekend
L-N Photo by Chris Barbee
'Jaws' Readied
Michelle Domangue of Bay City, formerly of
Austin, was injured in a two-car accident ap-
proximately five miles south of El Campo on
State Highway 71 at approximately 8:45 p.m.
Sunday. She was en route to Bay City, where she
ia a reporter, when sh<* collided with a north-
bound vehicle. Two people in the other car
escaped Injury.
Local authorities reported three
major accidents over the
weekend, resulting in three people
being taken to El Campo
Memorial Hospital and one man
being charged with driving while
intoxicated
The first accident occurred
around 5:30 p.m. Sunday night,
according to an El Campo Police
Department report.
According to a witness of the ac-
cident, Arthur Robert Lee, Rt. 2,
was northbound in the 1600 block
of South Mechanic. Lee apparent-
ly lost control of his vehicle caus-
ing the vehicle to cross the road-
way into the southbound lane of
traffic . Lee's vehicle then cut
across a roadway, cutting across
the 100 block of West Alfred Street
and collided with a tractor-trailer
in a parking lot.
Lee was charged with DWI and
taken to El Campo Memorial
Hospital where he was treated
and released.
In a second accident that occur-
red a few hours later on Highway
71 about five miles south of El
Campo, a vehicle traveling north-
bound crossed the center stripe
and struck the left front of a vehi-
cle driven by Michelle Domangue
of Bay City.
Domangue was taken to ECMH
and later transferred to Spring
Branch Hospital in Houston. She
was listed in satisfactory condi-
tion Tuesday with compund frac-
tures of her arm.
The victim of the third accident,
Lisa Epperley of Old Ocean, ap-
parently fell asleep while she was
traveling south on Highway 71
Monday night, according to the
Department of Public Safety of-
ficer who investigated the acci-
dent.
Epperley was about 64 miles
south of El Campo when the small
pickup she was driving ran off the
road and hit a bar ditch embank-
ment.
Epperley was taken to ECMH
where she was treated and releas-
ed.
Fire Marshal Garland Myers
said Saturday night's fire at the
old Ebeling’s Flower Shop, 707 W.
Jackson St., “definitely was set."
Myers said men and six trucks
were dispatched to the blaze at
9:16 p.m. He said it would be im-
possible to assess the damage,
because the building was in the
process of being demolished.
However, he added that a $250
reward is being offered for infor-
mation on the blaze.
Commissioners Discuss Funding Fair Program —
(Continued From Page I)
keeping program and remain
within the present budget.
Rutherford agreed to look into it.
Precinct 1 Commissioner A.V.
Loo per was given permission to
rent some property from Santa Fe
for stockpiling road material at a
fee of $470 per year effective Feb.
1. The railroad siding, across
from the precinct barn, was
rented by a company who sub-
ieased it to Precinct 1. Now the
precinct will rent directly from
the railroad.
Looper also brought up the
paving requirement of the
county's subdivision policies for
discussion. He presented two
proposals, both of which will be
drafted for further consideration
at a future meeting
As it now stands, roads in new
subdivisions must be paved
before the plat is accepted for
recording and lots can be sold.
Looper recommended that
roads which join county gravel
roods be graveled instead of
paved. He also recommended not
forcing a developer to pave his
subdivision roads until one year
after the plat is accepted for
recording to give the developer
time to sell some lots
In order to make sure that the
roads, which would initially be
brought up to county gravel road
specifications, would be paved at
the end of one year, the county
would hold a bond on the roads to
pay for the required work should
the developer try to renege on his
responsibility.
Looper said not only will it
improve the cash flow situation of
the developer, but it will help the
road because a paved road which
is not used will deteriorate
In other Precinct 1 business,
l-ooper asked that Dehydrator
Road be renamed Freil-Barker
Road <CR 103). The request was
approved
In final matters, Tom Shult and
Ben Woodruff of Precinct 4 were
given approval for conservation
work, a plat on Garden of
Memories Cemetery II was ap-
proved, Rita Hancock and James
Lesley were appointed to the
Wharton County Historical
Commission and an electronic
voting machine was demon-
strated by Tom Eschberger. area
manager of Computer Election
Systems of Addison.
Wharton County 100 Club Elects New Officers
In it's first meeting this year,
the Wharton County 100 Club
elected new officers, discussed
future fund-raising events and
and possible equipment pur
chases for local law enforvememt
The club, established in 1978.
provides funds for peace officers
killed or disabled in the line of
duty as well as providing
scholarships for the children of
peace officers killed in the line of
duty or in need of financial
assistance
The new officers, elected
Thursday night at the Branding
Iron Restaurant, include: B.J.
Sablatura of East Bernard,
president. Rudy Hafner of El
Campo. vice president, James
Socha of El Campo. second vice
president, and Melvena Hoffman
of ElCampo. secretary-treasurer.
County Combines Officers Duties —
(Coottnaed From Page I)
Wt are called (by police) because
we keep up with the laws icon
earning juvimilesi.
“I think we're getting into a
problem with terminology
becuuee Mike did so much more
then the scope of a juvenile
prefaotton officer ’ Daniels ad-
ded
“I’d like to do M by myself I
knee I ran ds N I ve done M
before. I know my potential.”
County Attorney John Roades
told the court his office is in need
of an investigator “If these funds
(assistant juvenile probation
officer 1 can be reallocated my
investigator can put an emphasis
on juvenile law and in-
vestigation.” he said The
■iglgsatnin was not dtoruoaed
In I MB the department handled
135 juvenile cases, with M being
on the east side of the county and
Mon the west Seventy nine of the
M El Campo area cases were
referred to juvenile probation,
with loral officers handling the
remaining 14 cases
”1 can assure you that if it
dorsn t work out lunda will
communicate It to the juvenile
hoard Hfclar said
submitted to the council for ap-
proval.
The council agreed to lease the
building to the Art League for five
years, but will retain the option to
sell the building if warranted. If
the building is sold, the league will
be reimbursed for money invested
in renovation of the building
Following a recommendation
by Mayor A.G. “Red” Miller, the
council voted to make an offer to
Ben Gerberman and J.C. Hen-
derson for the purchase of land on
Webb Street. The mayor
suggested the purchase because
of expansion in that area and the
possibility of widening the street
for better access.
In other action, the council:
• Accepted a recommendation
from the Planning and Zoning
Commission to rezone Adling
Addition Lots 11-14 in southeast El
Campo from R-l to R-1MH for
mobile homes.
• Approved a request from First
National Bank to close and
abandon the 16-foot alleyway
between the Travel Store and
Credit Bureau off Jackson Street.
The city does retain the right to
enter the lot if repairs must be
made to a nearby utility cable.
• Granted a request from John
Winter for a six-month extension
to get water and sewer lines in his
mobile home park. Winter at-
tributed the delay to engineering
and weather problems.
• Tabled discussion of a new
sound system for the council
chambers in order to receive
more bids.
• Tabled a proposal from the
Executive Committee of Inter-
vening Cities in the Central Power
and Light rate cases to establish
and fund a full-time position to
monitor CPL activities. Council
agreed to wait to see what per-
centage of cities vote to par-
ticipate in the project.
• Authorized the city manager
to negotiate with Mauritz and
Carroll on a price for tanks and a
building owned by them which is
located on city property. The
company has leased the propety
for five years but it will not be re-
leased because of the new service
center plans.
Short Stories
There must have been some
powerful winds blowing during
Monday night's storm, which
dumped nearly three inches of
rain on El Campo. Donald Hicks.
l,ouise-Hahn Road, said an empty
1.100-pound fertilizer tank flew
from between 75 to 100 yards
across the highway and smashed
into a brick wall of his home. It
caused extensive damage, Hicks
said, although he and his wif^
slept through it all. They awoke
the next morning to find windows
broken and a caved-in wall.
operate a company within the
Dallas Communications Complex.
While in California, he was an
Emmy-award winning
cinematographer and served as
producer of the award-winning
TV series. “This Is The Life.”
Some K00 to 900 El Campoans
are getting calls from the local
unit of the American Heart
Association. Those who get called
today, and perhaps tomorrow,
will be asked for their support
against heart disease.
The El Campo Rainbow Girls
will be cooking up homemade
chili Friday, Feb. 25 at the
Community Center from II a.m.
until 1:30 p.m. Tickets are $3 and
can be purchased from any
Rainbow Girl or at the door. The
dinner includes rice, beans and
iced tea. The dinner is this term’s
money making project and
proceeds will be used for various
charitable projects.
The Danevang 4-H Club will
also be serving up some hot chili
on Sunday, Feb. 20. from 11:30
a m. to 2 p.m. at the Danevang
Community Center. Tickets are$2
for the meal which includes chili,
beans, rice and tea. The public is
encouraged to attend.
In other heart news, a Jump
Rope for Heart team will be in El
Campo next Wednesday to
demonstrate jump roping. They
will be at Northside Elementary
from 9-9:30 a.m., at Southside
Kindergarten from 10-10:30 a.m..
El Campo Junior High from 10:50-
11:20 a.m.. at a business drive
kickoff luncheon at the Com-
munity Center from 11:45-12:45.
at Hutchins Elementary from 1-
1:30 p.m, and at El Campo
Memorial Hospital from 1:45-2:15
p.m.
Rudy Machala. Wharton County
sheriff, told the club some of his
newer deputies could use bullet-
proof vests and high-powered
flashlights Machala said many
vests the department had
originally purchased had worn
out and although the high
powered flasnlights are usually
bought by the officers themselves,
some of the officers with families
to support found the purchases
difficult
The club voted unanimously to
appropriate money for future
purchases, once the coat can he
determined
The hoard a bo elected new
hoard members Don Drmnv,
Tom Henderson John Kit/ Hob
Melanson, («enr Guffey. HH
Arburkk Jim Tuttle and Andy
Row ton
El Campoans did quite well in
last weekend's Gulf Coast
Championship Domino Tour-
nament held In Ganado. Taking
first place was the El Campo
team of Sam Robinson and L.J.
Judd. They won $1541 and two
trophies. Second place went to
A.J. Kutac and Pal Henke, and
third went to I.E. Yalenla and
John Munson, all of Hallettavllle.
More than IS4I players par-
ticipated in the tourney, which
drew teams from as far away as
Naragdoches.
El Campo ran also brag on Ken
lamkln son of Alma lamkin
Mvall l.aoe. wbo bas bad a vers
successful fa-year career to
r toe m slag rspb* In |jm Sageles
lomfcto grew ap In Kl Campo
before Jatotog l be ml Mars see
♦ be He bas retarned to Tesas to
Any Catholic girl age 6-18
wishing to join the Juniorette or
Junior Catholic Daughters should
attend a meeting with their
mothers Monday, Feb. 21 at 7
p.m. in the St. Philip's Parish
hall. For advance information
call Mrs. Jay Harris at 543-9475.
The I'nited Pentecostal Church,
corner of First and South
Washington streets, will have a
special children's prabe and
celebration service. A special
*erm«m*tte. puppets and refresh-
ments will be Included. The public
is invited The service b Saturday
at 3 p.m
Two local farmers cooperatives
are meeting tomorrow. Danevang
Farmers Co-Op will hold Its 43rd
annaol membership marling at
the Danevang Community Cooler
beginning at 14 a m Tito aewlv
organised Farmers CoaporalKe
af El Campo will meet lumorrsu
at Ike A merle no Iwgtoa Cooler at
S p.m Eorb meellog sHI rso rlode
»bh a meal Farmers CoOp will
tallow (be meal wMb a daore
9
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Barbee, Chris. El Campo Leader-News (El Campo, Tex.), Vol. 98, No. 94, Ed. 1 Wednesday, February 16, 1983, newspaper, February 16, 1983; El Campo, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1007211/m1/2/?rotate=90: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Wharton County Library.